GERMANY PERSPECTIVE

Berlin, May 20, 2026. As soon as the video of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir circulated on X, the German response was quick and unequivocal. It shows Ben-Gvir waving an Israeli flag in the port of Ashdod, alongside activists kneeling and tied from the international flotilla to Gaza, telling them: 'Welcome to Israel, we are the masters of the house here.'

German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert was the first German official to publicly react. In a post on X, he highlighted that Ben-Gvir's behavior was 'totally unacceptable and incompatible with the fundamental values of Germany and Israel.' Seibert expressed satisfaction at seeing many Israeli voices themselves describe the minister's attitude exactly in these terms, indicating a convergence between German criticism and part of the domestic Israeli opinion.

Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) was even more direct. He told the dpa agency that Ben-Gvir's behavior was 'totally unacceptable' and that it 'fundamentally contradicted the values for which Germany and Israel intend to stand together.' This formulation, emphasizing a common project rather than a patronizing relationship, is characteristic of German diplomatic rhetoric towards Israel: Berlin abstains from issuing unilateral injunctions and prefers to invoke shared responsibility.

The flotilla, dubbed 'Gaza Sumud Flotilla' and consisting of 51 ships, aimed to establish 'a humanitarian corridor and break the illegal blockade of Gaza.' Israeli forces intercepted the entire convoy and took 430 activists on board Israeli ships. In its public statements, Berlin focused exclusively on the minister's staging and not on the legality of the interception itself - a notable framing choice.

This stance contrasts with that of other European capitals. Italy summoned the Israeli ambassador and demanded formal apologies, with Giorgia Meloni and Antonio Tajani describing the video as 'absolutely unacceptable' and an attack on 'any elementary protection of human dignity.' Greece lodged an official protest with Israeli authorities. France and Spain summoned the ambassador and chargé d'affaires of Israel, respectively.